Author Archive
Stephanie Kanowitz
Cybersecurity
What is ‘reasonable cybersecurity’?
The term is used in policy after policy. But with no standard definition, networks are often left unprotected and open to lawsuits. That is changing.
Emerging Tech
It’s time to take a serious look at esports gaming
The growing popularity of competitive video games is creating opportunities for governments at all levels. It builds skills, fosters community at local rec centers and schools and even boosts tourism.
Digital Government
School's out for summer, but virtual learning is in
Momentum for virtual learning has been building for years, and come fall, it will be offered in hundreds of more schools.
Emerging Tech
To drive revenue, cities turn to tech to fix their parking problems
Parking brings in $3 billion a year for state and local governments. That's why they are using new technologies to help push parking reforms aimed at streamlining enforcement and increasing revenues and environmental friendliness.
Cybersecurity
Whole-of-state program delivers security that’s ‘antivirus on steroids’
Woodbury, Minnesota, was one of the first cities to take advantage of the subsidized managed detection and response solution.
Finance
Virginia's 'tech tax' ignites debate on business taxes
Many states are extending sales tax to digital services, but the Virginia Senate’s attempt to expand it to cover business-to-business transactions raised eyebrows.
Digital Government
Mobile hunting, fishing licenses streamline conservation management
Minnesota’s new system will replace a paper-based license purchase and harvest registration process, saving staff time and improving customer service.
Emerging Tech
Cities dip into immersive technologies
Digital twins are helping streamline city planning and apprenticeship programs, but governments must step up adoption to fully realize the benefits, an expert says.
Emerging Tech
How the procurement process can help agencies acquire responsible AI
Buying artificial intelligence is not just about setting new policies to manage emerging technology, but applying tried-and-true processes, one expert says.
Finance
Whole-of-state procurement gives local agencies better pricing, expert advice
Initially used to extend cybersecurity throughout government, the whole-of-state concept is also being used to push training and software licensing contracts to local agencies.
Cybersecurity
See something, say something: Ethical hackers strengthen cyber resilience
Cities and states are increasingly adopting vulnerability disclosure policies that encourage “white hat” or ethical cybersecurity researchers to identify and report security weaknesses in government websites and systems.
Featured eBooks
Cybersecurity
Shining a light on shadow AI
Employees sometimes use artificial intelligence websites like ChatGPT to get more work done. But if they do so without approval, they may be putting their agency at risk.
Digital Government
No longer just nice to have: Data literacy essential to digital government
While more data-mature cities are seeing payoffs from upskilling staff, even small gains can make a big difference.
Digital Government
How to craft fair, transparent data-sharing agreements
Effective decision making often requires a complex process of gathering data from different sources. A new framework for data-sharing agreements streamlines the process.
Digital Government
Expungement backlogs swamp courts
Thousands of new expungement applications are causing months-long backlogs in jurisdictions with manual and paper-based processing. Automation can help.
Digital Government
Lessons from one state’s effort to modernize its criminal justice system
New York’s sweeping 2020 law sought to accelerate pre-trial processes with technology upgrades. But the state’s experience offers lessons for other jurisdictions undertaking similar efforts to modernize the justice system.
Management
Graying prisons face accelerating health care needs
Rapidly growing numbers of older inmates with diabetes, dementia and liver disease are forcing states to reevaluate early release policies and the social safety nets that might prevent incarceration.
Workforce
Job opportunities targeting workers with ADHD and autism gain traction
North Carolina wants to attract more neurodivergent people to IT work. It is one of many such initiatives in government.
Digital Government
How generative AI is being used to put the humanity back into government
Non-English speaking residents of Minnesota can more easily access driver and vehicle services thanks to a new generative AI-based virtual assistant that automatically translates English into Hmong, Spanish and Somali.
Cybersecurity
How one state pushes cybersecurity to local agencies
Arizona’s whole-of-state cybersecurity program gives local governments free access to cloud-based cybersecurity tools—an approach that extends security and helps build a problem-solving community.
